2 Toot(The Second Day of the Blessed Month of Tute)

The Martyrdom of St. John the
Baptist

On this day, the forerunner and great
prophet, St. John the Baptist, son of Zacharias the priest, was martyred by the
order of King Herod. When St. John rebuked Herod because of Herodias, the wife
of his brother Phillip whom he had taken as a wife, he said to him, "It is not
lawful for you to have your brother's wife." (Mark:6:18)
Herod seized the Saint and cast him into prison; however, he feared John.

An opportune day came when Herod, on his birthday,
gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers and the chief men of Galilee. And
when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced and pleased Herod. He
promised her anything she might ask for, even as much as half of his kingdom.
She went to her mother and asked her, "What shall I ask?" Her mother said, "Ask
for the head of John the Baptist on a platter." When Herod heard this, he was
exceedingly sorry. But because of his promise and those who were sitting with
him, he did not want to refuse her request. He therefore commanded his servants
to cut off the head of Saint John and they gave it to the damsel and the damsel
gave it to her mother. (Mark
6:20-28)
There was great consternation that day, and their joy soon turned into sorrow.

It was said that when the holy head of St. John was
cut off, it flew up off their hands into the air, and it cried out saying, "It
is not right for you to take your brother's wife." It is also said that the head
now is present at Homs in Syria.

As of the holy body, the disciples of St. John took it
and laid it in a grave until the days of Pope Athanathius, when God Willed to
uncover his body.